The 2016-17 University of Maine Black Bear Womens Basketball team. Photo courtesy of Black Bear Athletics.
Sigi Koizar scored 21 points Tuesday night, but it wasn’t enough as the Maine Black Bears dropped a 69-62 decision to Harvard at Lavietes Pavilion in Boston, Massachusetts before a small crowd of 413 fans.
Maine (1-2) led by as many as seven points in the first half and held a three point halftime lead. Harvard took their first lead midway through the third quarter at 44-43, before the Bears responded with a 8-2 run to take back a five point advantage.
Harvard closed out the third quarter with their own 8-2 run to take a 54-53 lead into the final period. Harvard would build the lead to as many as nine in the final ten minutes, and Maine got no closer than four the rest of the way. The Bears shot only 35% from the floor in the game, and could only muster a nine point fourth quarter.
Destiny Nunely led all scorers with 22 points and six rebounds for Harvard (1-1). Madeline Raster chipped in 14 points, three rebounds, five assists, and three steals.
Koizar had six rebounds, three assists, and two steals to go along with the 21 points for the visiting Black Bears. Laia Sole had 13 points, seven rebounds, six assists, and a steal. Tanesha Sutton and Blanca Millan both had 10 points a piece.
Maine heads to Columbia, South Carolina this weekend to compete in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Womens Challenge. The Bears will play three straight days against three opponents beginning Sunday at 5 p.m. against St Peters University. Maine then faces #3 South Carolina Monday at 7 p.m. They close out the tournament by facing Hampton University Tuesday at 5. Harvard will stay home and host Samford on Friday at 7 p.m.
UME 22 16 15 9- 62
HVD 18 15 20 15-69
Field goals- Maine 35% (21-60) Harvard 47% (27-57)
Three point goals- Maine 29% (7-24) Harvard 35% (7-20)
Free throws- Maine 93% (13-14) Harvard 50% (8-16)
Turnovers- Maine 12 Harvard 12
Points off Turnovers- Maine 11 Harvard 15
